Home Living in Portugal Transportation Lisbon Portugal Airport: How to Find Your Way to The City Center?

Lisbon Portugal Airport: How to Find Your Way to The City Center?

Modified date: December 28, 2022

The Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is the main international and domestic airport in Portugal. It’s known as Aeroporto da Portela by locals. Lisbon Portela Airport is one of the key airports in southern Europe as well. It hosts 14 million passengers a year.

One of the best qualities of Lisbon Airport is its proximity to the city center. It is nearly ten kilometers away from the center and it makes transportation from the airport fairly easy. Apart from its location, the options it offers for transportation also makes the airport a loved one among others of the European capitals.

In this article, a short introduction to transportation options from the airport is below. You can also find information about the list of hotels nearby, facilities at the airport, and some suggestions.

Table of Contents

How to Go from Lisbon Airport to the City Center

Here is the list of transportation services from Lisbon airport departures:

Subway: the Fastest, Cheapest, and Safest Option
Aerobus is a Convenient Option to Go from Lisbon Airport to Downtown
Bus Lines: Only Viable If You Cannot Reach Your Destination by Subway or Aerobus
Night Bus # 208
Taxi: A Comfortable, Yet More Expensive Option
Private Transfers from Lisbon Airport to Downtown
Car Rental
Uber: Yet Another Alternative to the Taxi

These options are among the cheapest when compared to other European cities.

Transportation Options to City Center from the Lisbon Airport

The airport is located very close to the city center in Lisbon, it is only 7 kilometers away. The airport is connected to the city with great public transport channels, so getting to the city is fast and convenient. It is also worth noting that all these alternatives are among the cheapest compared to other cities in Europe. Below are the best options available to go from Lisbon airport to downtown.

The Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), also known as Aeroporto da Portela by locals, is the main airport in Portugal.

The Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), also known as Aeroporto da Portela by locals, is the main airport in Portugal. It is also one of the key airports in southern Europe. There are frequent connections to the main European capitals, which situates it as a hub for international destinations such as Brazil, and certain destinations in Africa.

Note that the airport has two terminals: T1 and T2. T1 is the main terminal. It manages most of the international departures. T2 is a smaller one mostly used by low-cost airlines. A free shuttle bus connects these two terminals to each other.

You have lots of alternatives while arriving downtown from the airport. Lisbon Subway is the most useful one in terms of saving time and money.

You’ll find a list of the most used options for Lisbon airport departures below.

1. Subway at Lisbon Airport: the Fastest, Cheapest, and Safest Option

You first need to buy the rechargeable electronic card Viva Viagem. They are available at the ticket machines in the metro station. It’s only €0,50 to buy the ticket. You’ll need this card to travel in the subway and bus network.

It costs only €1,50 for a one-way trip to the city, via the Viva Viagem card.

Subway is the cheapest way to go from Lisbon airport to the city center.

Note that the subway station at the airport is linked only to T1. So, you’ll need to get on the bus shuttle to arrive at T1, if your arrival is at T2. The bus shuttle takes around 10 minutes to arrive at T1.

Also, the subway station is a part of the Red Line. This is one of the metro lines in Lisbon. The Red Line connects to the other three lines: Blue, Yellow, and Green Lines. So, you can switch lines accordingly when you need to.

It takes around 15 minutes to arrive at Lisbon’s center, which is the Sao Sebastiao Station. To arrive at Baixa/Chiado takes around 25 minutes.

The operating hours of the metro are from 6.30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Frequency: Every 6–10 min

The Connection Stops are as follows:

The Blue Line in Sao Sebastiao Station: 15 minutes
The Yellow Line in Saldanha Station: 13 minutes
The Green Line in Alameda Station: 11 minutes.

Journey Duration: 15 minutes to Sao Sebastiao, 25 minutes to Baixa / Chiado

You can find more information about the Lisbon metro line in our article below.

Lisbon Metro Guide – All You Need to Know!

2. Aerobus is A Convenient Option to Go from Lisbon Airport to Downtown

The Aerobus connects Lisbon Airport to a number of downtown neighborhoods. It takes you to Baixa / Chiado in 20 minutes.

The price of the single ticket is 4 Euros (3.60 Euros online) and 6 Euros round trip 5.40 Online).

The Aerobus connects Lisbon Airport to a number of downtown neighborhoods. It takes you to Baixa / Chiado in 20 minutes.

If your final destination is Rossio or Baixa / Chiado neighborhoods, then this is a very convenient option. Unlike the subway, you don’t have to change vehicles to get to these areas. You also get to avoid the rush hour crowd in the subway and the subway ticket vending machines.

The Aerobus passes through both terminals, T1 and T2. So, if your plane arrives at T2, this is a convenient option to go from Lisbon airport to downtown. This service has two lines:

* Line 1: Passes every 20 minutes; it goes to the city center stopping at Marqués de Pombal, Avenida da Liberdade, Rossio and ending at Cais do Sodré.

* Line 2: Passes every 40 minutes; it goes to the financial center of the city.

Hours: 7:30 AM to 11:00 PM

Frequency: Line 1 every 20 minutes / Line 2 every 40 minutes

Price: 4 Euros (3.60 Euros online) and 6 Euros round trip 5.40 Online)

Stops:

Line 1 – Entrecampos, Campo Pequeno, Saldanha, Picoas, Fontes Pereira de Melo Avenue, Marquês de Pombal, Avenida da Liberdade, Restauradores, Rossio, Praça do Comércio, Cais do Sodré

Line 2 – Entrecampos, Sete Rios, Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro Avenue, Praça de Espanha, José Malhoa Avenue

Journey Duration: 20 minutes to Rossio and Praça do Comércio

You can find more information about the Aerobus and buy your ticket online here: https://www.aerobus.pt/.

3. Bus Lines: Only Viable If You Cannot Reach Your Destination by Subway or Aerobus

The below bus lines pass by the airport:

705: East-Aeroporto-Rome / Areeiro
722: Praça de Londres-Aeroporto-Portela
744: Marquês-Aeroporto-Moscavide
783: Amoreiras-Aeroporto-Portela

If your hotel is located in the central areas of Lisbon, the bus is not a convenient option to make it to downtown Lisbon however. These lines have long lists of stops. In addition, it should be noted that they only allow hand luggage (50x40x20 cm in size).

Price: 1.45 Euros with Viva Viagem card, 1.85 Euros without a Viva Viagem card

You can check the detailed bus routes by the below link: http://carris.transporteslisboa.pt/

4. Night Bus # 208

The Night Bus #208 is the necessary way if your Lisbon airport arrivals are at night. Neither the Aerobus nor the subway works at late hours. This line has several stops in the center. They include the stops of Cais do Sodré station, the Praça do Comércio, and Praça da Figueira, right next to Rossio..

Hours: 11:30 PM to 5:30 AM

Frequency: Every 30 minutes – 1 hour

Price: 1.45 Euros

Important Stops: It has numerous stops. Among the most prominent Cais do Sodré, Praça do Comércio, Praça da Figueira or Alameda.

Journey Duration: 40 minutes

Find out about the stops and the schedule for Bus Line # 208: http://carris.transporteslisboa.pt/

5. Taxi: Comfortable But More Expensive

Unlike most European capitals, Lisbon Airport is rather close to the city through a car ride. It is a very comfortable option to take a taxi from Lisbon Airport to the city center or wherever your accommodation may be.

You can find taxi stands in both T1 and T2 terminals.

It is a very comfortable option to take a taxi from Lisbon Airport to the city center or wherever your accommodation may be.

It is, however, the most expensive option with somewhere between 15-25 Euro, assuming your destination is downtown.

6. Private Transfers from Lisbon Airport to Downtown

What is even more convenient than a taxi ride? Drivers holding a sign with your name right inside the airport, only to escort you to your private ride, which will then take you to wherever your final destination may be.

The prices of private transfers have been falling, making them an attractive alternative to taxi rides. This service is particularly interesting when traveling in a group; it is common to reserve minivans. The predefined prices help avoid detours or negotiations that could be encountered in taxi rides.

7. Car Rental

If you are only planning on staying in and around Lisbon, then perhaps renting a car is not your cup of tea. The airport is conveniently connected to public transport and to parking. However, if you are going to visit other places in Portugal, then this can be an interesting option.

All the larger international car rental firms are present at the airport. In the arrivals terminal, you have several options.

8. Uber: Yet Another Alternative to the Taxi

Let’s face it, the taxis are losing their ground with Uber being so accessible. At the airport, there is a designated pick-up area for Uber. It is almost always more affordable than a taxi ride. To give you an idea, the journey from the Lisbon Airport to the city center (eg. Rossio) may cost between 13 – 18 Euros.

This may be the most convenient option, even over the taxi, when you arrive late at night and neither the Aerobus nor the subway works anymore.

This may be the most convenient option, even over the taxi, when you arrive late at night and neither the Aerobus nor the subway works anymore. Also when your accommodation is in less well-connected neighborhoods from the airport such as Alfama or in the suburbs.

Facilities at Lisbon Airport

Lisbon international airport offers all amenities you’ll need. You can find information about delays, flights, or arrivals from the website of ANA. ANA is part of the Vinci Group, managing the airport.

You can look at the website here: https://www.ana.pt/en/lis/home.

You’ll also find many duty-free shops, paid lounges, and restaurants at the airport. Note that the services and quality differ greatly between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. T2 is a more low-cost terminal, and its shopping area is quite limited. Note that cigarettes and alcohol are more affordable in supermarkets. All three airport lounges are available in Terminal 1. The entry is €30.

Free WiFi is also available in all buildings of the airport. However, it’s usually slow, especially in Terminal 2. The name of the WiFi is “VINCI Airports WiFi”, and it requires e-mail submission for sign-up. You can find more about the WiFi at ANA’s website here: https://www.ana.pt/en/lis/services-shopping/essential-services/free-wifi.

Currency exchange is available at Terminal 1 of Lisbon airport arrivals hall. If it’s not urgent, it’s advisable to exchange currency in your home country. Or you can exchange at Lisbon city center, for better rates.

ATMs are also available at T1 for getting cash.

The left luggage facility is another service at the Lisbon airport. It’s especially useful when you’ve checked out from your hotel. You may not want to carry heavy luggage while visiting the city. In that case, you can leave it there for a reasonable price. For up to 10 kg, the 24-hour charge is €3,36. Between 10-30 kg, it’s €4,98, and for 30+ kg, it’s €9,87. You can reach the facility near the P2 car park.

A VAT refund is also possible if you reside outside of Europe. There are certain shops participating in the Tax-Free Shopping scheme. If you shop from one of them, you can get a VAT refund of up to 23 percent. This is possible for items worth more than €50.

Things To Consider About Lisbon Airport Departures

Passport control takes place after the duty-free shops. So, you need to take the long passport control queues into account while shopping at duty-free shops.
Checking which terminal you’ll leave from is important. T2 has no direct connection to the subway or bus services.
Typically, fares are calculated based on the taxi meter. However, some taxi drivers may insist on set fares. In this case, you’ll need to make clear if you’ll pay a set fare or not. If you have a problem with the taxi, you can make a complaint at this address: https://www.livroreclamacoes.pt/inicio.
No airside transfer from T1 to T2 is available. So, you need to manage your time accordingly. To go from T1 to T2, you need to:
- pass through immigration,
- get your luggage,
- pass through customs,
- take the bus from T1 to T2,
- check your luggage in,
- pass through security, and
- pass through immigration.